The top things to do and places to be

A 40th birthday party with cake and balloon animals marks Saturday’s opening of the Farmers Market in Little Rock’s River Market District for the season. The market is in the pavilions behind the Ottenheimer Market Hall, 400 President Clinton Ave. Normal hours will be 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 25, and the Tuesday market will shift to evenings - “Night Market” hours, 3-7 p.m. May 27-Aug. 26, will also feature street performers and entertainers and the Market Hall will stay open late. Call (501) 375-2552 or visit rivermarket.info. See story on Page 4E.

2 TOAD

Downtown Conway will hop, rock and run for the annual Toad Suck Daze, Friday-Sunday. Of course, the usual toad races will be on the schedule, and visitors can also watch the Mardi Daze Parade and an Arkansas Shakespeare Festival presentation, take part in the Toad Suck run or the Tour de Toad bike ride, play in the kids zone and take photos with the mascot, Croaker. This will be the first year for the Toad Suck Challenge, a new athletic competition. On the music side, this year’s headliners are Mac Powell, Sawyer Brown and MC Hammer.

General festival admission is free but registration fees and Toad Bucks are required for some activities. Call (501) 327-7788 or visit toadsuck.org.

3 TANGLE

The Central Arkansas Library System’s Ron Robinson Theater, in the Arcade Building, President Clinton and River Market avenues, Little Rock, will host the sold-out U.S theatrical premiere of the movie Devil’s Knot, about the West Memphis Three and starring Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth, at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Author Mara Leveritt, on whose book the film is based, director Atom Egoyan and several cast members will attend. Doors open at 6 p.m.; there’s a waiting list for $35 tickets, call (501) 320-5715 or visit RonRobinson-Theater.org.

4 TAYLOR

The Arkansas Symphony and the band Jeans n’ Classics - led by Neil Donell on lead vocals and acoustic guitar - will “Shower the People” with the music of James Taylor for its final Acxiom Pops Live! concert of the 2013-14 season, 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Robinson Center Music Hall, West Markham Street and Broadway, Little Rock. It’s the orchestra’s final concert at Robinson before a two-year remodeling; the set list includes “Handyman,” “Carolina in My Mind,” “Up On the Roof,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Sweet Baby James,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “Fire and Rain” and “How Sweet It Is.” Tickets are $18-$59, $10 for students, free to the Sunday matinee for kids with a paying adult. Call (501) 666-1761 or visit ArkansasSymphony.org.

5 TAIL-WAGGERS

It’s a day of fun for dogs and their people at Bark in the Park, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Burns Park Dog Park, Tournament Drive, North Little Rock. In addition to pup-friendly activities and vendors, the event includes demonstrations by the North Little Rock Police Department K9 Unit and is sponsored by North Little Rock Friends of Animals. Admission is free. Call (501) 758-5482.

See mutts strut their stuff as Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals presents Paws on the Runway, 6 p.m. today at the Governor’s Mansion, Little Rock.

KTHV’s Alyse Eady serves as master of ceremonies for the event that includes refreshments, auctions and the human/canine fashion show. Tickets are $100 for runway seating and $50 for standing room only. Call (501) 603-2273 or visit careforanimals.org.

6 TASTE

More than 100 wines and eatables produced by area chefs, along with entertainment and a silent auction, will be on and among the tables for the 16th annual Wine & Food Festival, 6:30-9 p.m. Friday at Wildwood Park for the Arts, 20919 Denny Road, Little Rock. Among the participating restaurants and caterers: newbies Table 28 and Cache, plus the Capital Bar and Grill, Chenal Country Club, Bravo! Cucina Italiana, 1620 Savoy, Copeland’s and Blue Cake Company.

Tickets are $75; call (501) 821-7275 or visit wildwoodpark.org.

7 TENORS

The River City Men’s Chorus will unveil the program they’ll be taking to Berlin, Prague and Vienna next month in their 2013-14 season closer, “Why We Sing,” 7 p.m. today at Trinity United Methodist Church,1101 N. Mississippi St., Little Rock. The program will include sacred, secular, operatic and Broadway show selections. David Glaze conducts. Admission is free; doors open an hour prior to curtain and it’s advisable to arrive early to secure parking places and seats. Call (501) 377-1080 or visit rivercitymenschorus.com.

8 TREAD

Honor cancer survivors and raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society at the Relay for Life of Greater Little Rock, 6 p.m. Friday at the Clinton Presidential Center. The event includes an opening ceremony, survivors and caregivers laps, a luminaria ceremony and closing ceremonies. Registration is $10 and participants are encouraged to raise donations of at least $100. Call (501) 529-8887 or visit relay.acsevents.org.

9 TORQUE

Engines will rumble as the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired presents the Rev’n & Roar’n Car Show, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday in the school’s parking lot, 2600 W. Markham St., Little Rock. Awards will be given in categories including best sound system and student’s choice, and guests are also welcome to enjoy food and music.

Registration for vehicles is $20 but attendance is free. Call (501) 944-3098.

10 TRIBUTE

The city of Pine Bluff is turning 175 and it is celebrating the milestone with two days of festivities. It starts with Music on Main, 7 p.m. Friday downtown with music by On Call Band, Nicky Parrish and Tragikly White. The party continues Saturday with a Main Street parade at 10 a.m. and a Civil War re-enactment at 1 p.m. at Regional Park. A gala wraps things up at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. Gala tickets are $50, $25 for students.

Other activities are free. Call (870) 730-2004 or visit cityofpinebluff.com.